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Daughter's leukemia inspires UGA coach to fundraise for cancer research

The University of Georgia and the greater Athens community helped raise money for pediatric cancer research after UGA inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti found out last year that his daughter had leukemia.

Since then, donors from Bulldogs baseball fans to UGA football coaches and their wives have hosted fundraisers for 5-year-old Kasyn Olivadotti and pediatric cancer research.

Kasyn and her family once again will ask people to consider donating during WSB’s Care-a-thon on Thursday and Friday to help fund the Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, according to a news release.

That the Olivadottis are willing to share their story and the connection to UGA Bulldogs football encourages many people to learn about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, said Carrie Edwards, a public relations specialist for the hospital.

“We’re really excited to have them, and hopefully it will get more people to tune in,” Edwards said.

The UGA football team has donated items for the Care-a-thon to auction off in the past, but sharing such a personal story helps viewers understand what pediatric cancer means, she said.

“I think it really opens people’s eyes to what these children and their families go through,” Edwards said.

“You really can’t help but be touched when you hear their stories.”

Doctors diagnosed Kasyn with leukemia after a bug bite grew infected and stopped healing, Keely Olivadotti said in a news release. She brought Kasyn to a local hospital when bruises started appearing on her daughter’s arms and legs, she said.

“After several tests, the doctor called the room to deliver the most frightening, shocking, and unforgettable news: (Kasyn) had Leukemia,” Keely Olivadotti stated in the release. “Her platelets were so low that they were worried she could start to have bleeding at any minute.

“We were transported by ambulance to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. No reason can be explained why this happened to her, but the amazing doctors quickly started to teach us all about leukemia.”